Introduction
The Copy & Print Center is often called the heart of a Staples store. While the sales floor may carry office supplies and tech products, the print center is where many customers come for essential services — business cards, banners, copies, binding, laminating, shipping labels, and custom printing projects. Working as a print center associate is a different experience from being a general sales floor associate, requiring a mix of technical skills, customer service, and the ability to manage multiple orders simultaneously.
This guide is based on a comprehensive review of dozens of real employee experiences shared across job review sites, forums, and social media — not a single person’s opinion, but a balanced summary of what actual workers report.
If you’re considering a position in the Staples print center, here’s what the role actually involves.
What You’ll Actually Do
As a Staples Copy & Print Center associate, your day revolves around fulfilling customer print and copy orders. This includes operating commercial printers, copiers, and finishing equipment to produce a wide range of products: copies, color prints, business cards, flyers, posters, banners, invitations, binding, laminating, and more.
You’ll work directly with customers at the print center counter, helping them place orders, reviewing their files for print readiness, suggesting paper stocks and finishing options, and providing quotes. Many orders come in through Staples’ online system as well, so you’ll process both in-store and digital submissions.
File handling is a significant part of the job. Customers bring in documents in various formats — PDFs, Word files, images, and sometimes files that don’t open properly or aren’t formatted correctly. You’ll need to troubleshoot basic file issues, adjust print settings, and sometimes help customers understand why their design doesn’t translate well to print.
Equipment maintenance is another reality of the role. Commercial printers and copiers jam, run out of toner, and malfunction regularly. You’ll learn basic troubleshooting and maintenance, and when issues go beyond your ability to fix, you’ll coordinate with repair technicians — who, according to many associates, can take days to arrive.
During busy periods — like graduation season, holiday card season, and tax time — the print center can become very hectic, with multiple orders queued up and customers waiting. You may also be asked to help with sales floor tasks, register coverage, or other store duties when the print center is slow, which some associates find frustrating.
Pay & Hours
Staples print center associates typically earn between $12 and $16 per hour, with the national average around $13 to $15 per hour as of 2025-2026. Some locations pay slightly more than general sales floor associates due to the specialized nature of the work, though this isn’t universal.
Part-time hours generally range from 15 to 25 hours per week, with similar seasonal fluctuations to the rest of the store. Print center demand peaks during graduation season (April-June), holiday card season (November-December), and tax season. During slower periods, hours can drop.
At 20 hours per week and $14/hour, a part-time print center associate would earn approximately $14,560 per year before taxes. The same 10% employee discount and weekly pay schedule available to general associates applies to print center staff.
Pros
Skill Development: Working in the print center teaches you practical skills in graphic design basics, print production, file management, and commercial printing equipment operation. These skills can transfer to marketing, design, or production roles in other industries.
Varied and Engaging Work: Unlike repetitive stocking or cashiering, print center work involves different projects throughout the day. One order might be wedding invitations, the next could be a corporate presentation, and the one after that might be a child’s birthday banner. The variety keeps things interesting.
Customer Relationships: Because print center projects are often personal or important to customers (business launches, weddings, memorials), you develop a more meaningful connection with clients than typical retail interactions. Many associates enjoy being part of these moments.
Problem-Solving: The role exercises your troubleshooting abilities daily — from fixing file formatting issues to resolving equipment malfunctions to finding creative solutions for customer requests. If you enjoy figuring things out, this aspect of the job is satisfying.
Relatively Autonomous Work: Print center associates often work with a degree of independence, managing their own queue and workflow. There’s less micro-management compared to some sales floor roles, and experienced associates are trusted to handle complex orders on their own.
Cons
Unreliable Equipment: This is one of the most consistent complaints. Commercial printers and copiers break down frequently, and repairs can take days. Working around malfunctioning equipment while customers wait for their orders is a major source of stress.
Workload Doesn’t Match Pay: Many print center associates feel that the technical skills required — file handling, design troubleshooting, equipment operation — justify higher pay than what they receive. The specialized nature of the work contrasts with the near-minimum-wage compensation.
Being Pulled to Other Departments: When the print center is slow, associates are often asked to cover the register, stock shelves, or assist on the sales floor. Many print center employees find this frustrating, especially when they’re then expected to rush back and handle a sudden queue of print orders.
Unrealistic Goals and Metrics: Corporate sets production and sales targets for the print center that some associates describe as disconnected from reality — especially in stores with aging equipment, limited staffing, or lower foot traffic.
Customer Expectations vs. Reality: Some customers come in expecting instant turnaround on complex projects, don’t understand file format requirements, or want design services that go beyond what the print center offers. Managing these expectations diplomatically can be draining.
Tips for New Employees
Learn the Equipment Inside and Out: Spend time getting comfortable with every piece of equipment in the print center — printers, copiers, laminators, binding machines, and cutters. Know how to clear jams, replace toner, and perform basic maintenance. This knowledge will save you enormous stress during busy periods.
Develop a File Checklist: Before printing any customer file, check the format, resolution, bleed settings, and color mode. Catching issues before printing prevents wasted materials, reprints, and unhappy customers. Create a mental (or physical) checklist you run through for every order.
Set Realistic Expectations with Customers: When a customer brings in a rush order, be honest about turnaround time. It’s better to under-promise and over-deliver than to commit to a deadline you can’t meet. Most customers appreciate transparency.
Keep Your Work Area Organized: The print center can become chaotic quickly, especially when multiple orders are in progress. Label everything, use order tracking sheets or the POS system diligently, and keep finished orders separated from in-progress work.
Don’t Let Equipment Problems Get You Down: Machines will break. It’s not a reflection of your work — it’s a reality of the environment. Do what you can, communicate delays to customers clearly, and escalate repair requests promptly. The frustration is temporary.
FAQ
Do you need design experience to work in the Staples print center? No formal design experience is required. Staples provides training on their systems and equipment. However, having basic familiarity with file types (PDF, JPEG, PNG), print terminology (bleed, resolution, CMYK vs. RGB), and simple design tools is helpful and will make the learning curve easier. You won’t be expected to design from scratch, but you will need to review and troubleshoot customer files.
Is the print center busier than the rest of the store? It depends on the time of year and the specific location, but many associates report that the print center carries a disproportionate share of the store’s workload relative to its staffing. During peak periods, the print center can be the busiest area in the store. The workflow is also different — print orders require sustained focus and multi-step processing, unlike quick register transactions.
Can you move from the print center to other roles at Staples? Yes. Print center experience is valued within Staples, and associates can move into print center supervisor, assistant manager, or general management roles. The technical and customer service skills developed in the print center are also strong resume builders for careers outside of Staples in marketing, production, and business services.
Conclusion
Working in the Staples Copy & Print Center is one of the more engaging and skill-building retail positions available. The variety of projects, technical learning opportunities, and customer relationships make it more rewarding than typical sales floor work. However, the equipment reliability issues, pay-to-skill mismatch, and pressure to handle both print orders and general store duties are real challenges.
This role is best suited for people who enjoy hands-on, detail-oriented work and don’t mind troubleshooting under pressure. If you’re interested in graphic design, print production, or customer-facing project work, the Staples print center is a valuable entry point. If equipment frustrations and multi-tasking across departments sound overwhelming, a general retail position might be a better fit.